Christianity and Issues of Life & Death

Will Cover 4 issues this morning:

Abortion

Death Penalty

Suicide

Euthanasia

The Bible does not mention

Abortion

or

Euthanasia

The closest passage which comes to mentioning

abortion isExodus 21:22

but this passage speaks more of

miscarriage than abortion.

Sentencing a person to death is found throughout

the Older Testament...

11 crimes were punishable by death and the preferred means of punishment, by the Hebrews, was stoning.

Suicide is mentioned 3 times in the pages of the Scripture

Samson—Judges 16:29-30

King Saul—I Samuel 31:4-5&

Judas—Matthew 27:5

Rabbi Stewart Vogel says that “Not only is life a gift,

but also our existence is tied to God...humans are unique

in their essence because God ‘breathed into his nostrils the

breath of life...to take another life...can be likened

to stealing from God.”

Our Jewish brothers and sisters believe that issues surrounding life and death belong solely to the One

who created us.

Here is what the BOD says about life and death issues:

Abortion: our belief in the sanctity of the unborn...makes us reluctant to approve

abortion.

We cannot affirm abortion as a means of birth control and we reject it as a mean of

gender selection.

Here is what the BOD says about life and death issues:

Abortion cont’d: We follow the ancient Jewish belief that if there is a conflict

between life vs. life, then you choose the mother.

We support parental or guardian consent before an abortion can be performed on those who have not reached adulthood.

Abortion cont’d: The church should offer ministries to help reduce unintended

pregnancies.

We do not condemn anyone who has had an abortion.

Death penalty: We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem,

restore and transform all human beings.

We oppose the death penalty and urge its elimination from all criminal codes

Suicide: We believe that suicide is not the way human life should end.

Often suicide is the result of an untreated medical condition.

We believe that the church should be in ministry to help those who are suicidal and

provide comfort to families of those who have committed suicide.

Euthanasia: The church opposes assisted suicide and

euthanasia.

You may not agree with the stance of the United Methodist Church...that’s

ok.

We are not a church that says, “you either accept

and agree with every one of our beliefs or you can

leave.”

Here is what I believe!

I am unashamedly pro-

life!!!

Here is what I believe about abortion:

when there are couples who are willing to do anything to hold a child in their arms...how

can abortion be an option?

If you are pro-life you are pro-life all the way

I do not condemn anyone who has had an abortion

Here is what I believe about euthanasia:

Life is still in the hands of God…from beginning to end.

I have had the privilege of being at the bedsides of saints as they

breathed their last.

Here is what I believe about suicide:

Is a disease!!!

a glitch that keeps people from thinking clearly

Suicide is NOT the unforgiveable sin.

Here is what I believe about the death penalty:

What do you do with people who commit atrocious acts?

The Bible gives numerous examples of people who given a “death sentence.”

.

Hamilton says: “…I would remind you that the death penalty is, according to

the Scriptures, what each of us deserves. But God, who is rich in

mercy, sent a Savior to us, God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who through taking his

place in the gas chamber of his day…the Roman crucifix…paid a debt he did not owe so that you and I could be set

free from death.”.